beon

Old English

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *beuną (“to be”), related to Old English būan (“to dwell”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰew-, *bʰuH-. The past tense forms are from Proto-Germanic *wesaną (from which also wesan), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wes-.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈbeːo̯n/

Verb

bēon

  1. to be; exist
  2. to become

Usage notes

The verb "to be" in Old English was suppletive, and used forms from at least three different roots. There were two distinct present stems, for which wesan and bēon were the two infinitive forms. The present bēon was used to express permanent truths (the "gnomic present"), while wesan was used for the present participle and the preterite. They both shared the same past tense forms.

Conjugation
Conjugation of bēon (irregular)
infinitive bēon tō bēonne
indicative present past
1st-person singular bēo, bēom wæs
2nd-person singular bist wǣre
3rd-person singular biþ wæs
plural bēoþ wǣron
subjunctive present past
singular bēo wǣre
plural bēon wǣren
imperative
singular bēo
plural bēoþ
participle present past
wesende ġebēon

Descendants
  • Middle English: been
    • English: be (infinitive/subjunctive be, present participle being, past participle been)
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